Fired from 3,000-Ton 'Tactical Nuclear Attack Submarine': North Korea Releases Photos

[Anchor]

As if trying to exploit discord in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, North Korea has once again engaged in a missile provocation. Yesterday (October 14), it launched two types of "submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles" in the DONGHAE. The submarine, which North Korea claimed was designed for "tactical nuclear attacks," appears to have been deployed roughly three years after its launch.

Reporter Kim A-young has the details.

[Reporter]

These are photographs released by North Korea's Missile Administration showing what it stated was the test-firing yesterday of two types of "submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles," referred to as SLCMs, in the DONGHAE.

Given that one missile flew vertically while the other flew at an angle, analysts evaluate that they were launched respectively from the submarine's vertical launch tube and torpedo tube.

Looking at the shape of the conning tower, it matches the "Hero Kim Kun Ok," which North Korea claimed to be its first 3,000-ton "tactical nuclear attack submarine."

The "Hero Kim Kun Ok" was built by substantially enlarging the hull of a Soviet-designed Romeo-class diesel submarine to accommodate 10 vertical launch tubes, earning the nickname "Frankenstein submarine" due to its unusual exterior appearance.

Back at its launch ceremony in September 2023, the South Korean military assessed that it did not appear capable of normal operation, but weapons tests now appear to have been carried out about three years later.

[Shin Jong-woo / Secretary General, Korea Defense and Security Forum: "Whether it was the engine or for whatever reason, there seem to have been issues preventing the submarine from testing its weapons systems until now. It seems they resolved those issues and conducted individual launch tests this time."]

Proclaiming the strengthening of its naval nuclear capability, North Korea has been accelerating efforts to deploy 5,000-ton destroyers, unmanned underwater vehicles, and submarine forces.

Although the South Korean military made no separate announcement yesterday, it stated that it had been closely monitoring the North Korean military's movements.

[Jang Doyoung / Head of Public Affairs Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff: "Through diverse assets, we continuously tracked and monitored the North Korean cruise missiles from pre-launch through the cruise and terminal phases."]

Amid North Korea's test of "submarine-launched missiles" in the DONGHAE yesterday, a U.S. Navy high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and a U.S. Army reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft were also reported to have flown over the DONGHAE yesterday.

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Jung SUNGHOON)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.